student traci presenting poster

PHOTO: Student Traci Tempone presents at previous SCAD.

Tayler Petrowski, senior business administration student, concentrating in both management and entrepreneurship, is presenting, Sweet Temptations: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Chocolate Confectionary Industry which discusses entrepreneurial opportunities within the chocolate confectionary industry. Her research includes analyses of the economic environment, the chocolate confectionery industry within the United States, the direct and indirect competition and consumer trends. The inspiration behind Petrowski’s research came from an activity in Dr. Petru Sandu’s entrepreneurship class in which the class was told to create a new chocolate business. Even after she completed the assignment, Petrowski continued her research.

“I started researching the industry and what it would take to start this business,” she said. “Dr. Sandu noticed my interest and offered me an opportunity to further my research and expand the scope.”

Petrowski recognized that the chocolate industry had various opportunities for expansion and gaps to be filled by businesspersons.

There would be no growth, no new jobs, new technology or new development.”

“Without entrepreneurs finding these gaps in the marketplace and subsequently creating new ventures to fill them, our economy would become stagnant,” Petrowski said. “There would be no growth, no new jobs, new technology or new development.”

Petrowski’s presentation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 in Hoover 213.

Scholarship and Creative Arts Days (SCAD) is an annual event in which Elizabethtown College students have the opportunity to present research, participate in panels and demonstrate their creative talents. The students participating in SCAD come from a variety of academic departments and cover broad ranges of research.

Technology has impacted all academic fields. Senior music therapy majors Marissa Aulenbach, Ashley Blaha, and Marissa Harper look at the impact in the area of drumming in the music therapy field at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, in Hoover 215.

Their research, Effect of Ipad Versus Acoustic Drums On Social Skills Playing During Group Drumming focuses on using technology within drumming experiences in music therapy. They look at differences an iPad drum and an acoustic drum have on social interactions. Understanding these differences allows for music therapists to recognize effective forms of communication and socialization.

“In music therapy, people often misunderstand what we do, and (they) think we play music or the radio to ‘make people feel better’ ” Blaha said. “However, technology is a growing area in our field that requires some training and understanding.

Senior biology major Bhim Thapaliya presents Advocating for Peace through Social Change Leadership at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, in Hoover 211. SCAD.  

His presentation highlights successful aspects of social change. In Lancaster County, for instance, refugees need help to resettle in a new country. Thapiliya’s presentation discusses how the needs of these refugees are being advocated for by social change leaders. Thapaliya, himself, founded a non-profit organization, Act For Humanity (AFH) Foundation, that advocates for peace in the lives of refugees.

“Now we are working with local refugees in Lancaster helping them with ESL class, citizenship preparation class, tutoring for kids, etc.,” Thapaliya said. “Our international projects focused to help poor children in Nepal. We provide educational and basic health programming to aid those children.”

This summer, AHF Foundation is beginning an “Abroad in Nepal” program, which allows high school and college students in the United States the opportunity to travel to Nepal for education, volunteer experience and cultural exchange. This opportunity is on track to being offered at Elizabethtown College in 2016.

This year, the event is held over three days, in comparison to the usual two in years past. Presentations and poster sessions are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. Following the presentations and poster sessions, the Fine and Performing Arts Department Showcase Recital will be held in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center.

–by Paige Neidig, Scholarship and Creative Arts Days publicity intern